I'm high ...beyond our orbit.

One afternoon, my 3rd grade P.E. class neglected the fiery red kickball to watch the Space Shuttle stream across the sky. The ground trembled beneath our feet as we leaned against the chainlink fence, classmates claiming "My daddy did that! He works for NASA!" or "I'll fly to space one day!"

Space is the booster of my life. I've met astronauts and can provide more than necessary info about the ivory tiles that line the exterior of spacecraft. I've woken up at 2am to watch launches at the Indian River, sights that mimicked the blazing sunrise. In 2011, I stood solemnly at that same river beside thousands, tears rolling down my middle school cheeks. The American Space Shuttle Program, a sign of power and innovation for 30 years, had ended.

I made a habit of telling college career coaches and peers that I will work for the "up-and-coming space tourism industry". I'm familiar with 2 looks: "perhaps you should consider a more realistic career" and "you're insane". Turns out, my head is not beyond our orbit or even in the clouds. ​

SpaceX has announced they will send 2 people around the moon in 2018.

The tourists will complete physical training for their mission later this year. They will fly aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft for a week-long trip - quite the aerospace cruise. SpaceX has also shared that there are many other interested candidates, further pushing the space tourism industry.

The 3rd grade girl standing in awe of the thunderous spacecraft is ready to join the mission.